Reflecting back on a year with extreme highs and lows, where we spent a good part of the year mourning the loss of irreplaceable music legends, now’s the time to commend the artists that provided the few bright spots of 2016. Waiting to see if there were any last-minute surprises in December yielded some well deserved final entries. Scope the international staff multi-genre picks below!

As we move into the latter part of a decade and we bid adieu to another busy year in music, now’s the time for our collective team to weigh in on the best albums or EPs of the year. Not wanting to jump the gun in case there were any surprises in December proved fruitful and yielded some last-minute treasures from artists who wanted to end the year right. Check out our international staff selections below!

It’s not often we review video games around here, but there’s not many video games that are more applicable to our taste’s than Guitar Hero. Many of us were bitten by the buzz when the original Guitar Hero hit the shelves and at the risk of sounding redundant, it’s back and bigger than ever.

Barely beyond 10 years to the day the original Guitar Hero was released, the latest installment arrives with a plethora of changes and upgrades. So we sat down over the holidays and let some family take the first crack at the new game.Read more

As we head into the first week of May and Star Wars fans all over the world yell “May the 4th be with you”, one of my top anticipated releases of the year drops TODAY, beginning the month with a bang. Grammy nominated foursome Hiatus Kaiyote’s sophomore album ‘Choose Your Weapon’ is available everywhere in the U.S., providing more airport dancing jams for all (including me who’s previously danced in several terminals to ‘The World It Softly Lulls’ blasting from my headphones). Stumbling upon this Melbourne, Australia based group when they were scheduled to open for D’Angelo and Busta Rhymes at The Summer Spirit Festival in 2013, I’ve loved their unique blend of electro future soul/ jazz with world music influences ever since.

As you may be aware, we recently completed another round of submissions for our latest installment in the Unsigned and Wound Up series*. However, we’re going to need your help narrowing things down a bit more.

As Kendrick Lamar (intentionally or not, which is still up for debate after viewing his management’s reaction) added his name to the list of surprise releases with his latest drop, ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’, the discussion stirred up again like dust in the wind, begging the question, “Do we as fans like it?” “Does it make a difference in the end?” or “Would we have bought these albums no matter their release date?” Although Queen Bey’s not the first artist in history to do it, she re-ignited the latest trend, moving almost a million units of her album in 72 hours in December 2013, with artists like Drake, U2, Björk, Run The Jewels and D’Angelo (with his drop coming 14 years after ‘Voodoo’) joining the ranks. I posed these “Surprise Drops- Yay or Nay?” questions to our staff to get a global perspective as we listen to different genres and here are our thoughts below:Read more

Music Emissions is currently seeking the songs of 10-16 artists to enter into their quarterly contest, Unsigned & Wound Up. This is a great opportunity for exposure with the chance to earn an album review or artist spotlight on Music Emissions.

History

Unsigned and Wound Up is a series of audio compilations highlighting top emerging artists who may not be on your radar. Selected bands will compete for votes on Music Emissions and the top vote-getters will receive written features provided by the editorial staff at Music Emissions.

Started in 1999, Music Emissions has been promoting independent or DIY music podcasting since February of 2008. Over the years the site has grown to include reviewers and critics from all over the world. What started out as a college project now houses a music community of over 5000 avid indie music fans. In May of 2011, they launched their monthly contest known as Unsigned and Wound Up. Read more

Lots of people believe that “You never forget your first time!” and we’re pretty sure Ed Sheeran won’t forget his first gig in Italy, on the 20th of November at Alcatraz in Milan.

This concert was sold out for months. If you missed him this time, luckily he’ll return soon with two upcoming concerts planned in January as well! His British punctuality made him start the concert at 9:02 pm, ending precisely two hours later, with an amazing “Sing”, with over 2500 people in the venue, taking part. A real “one man show”, Ed was all alone on the stage but played like there were other four people on that stage. Cover, mash up, original arrangements and, above all, a live loop station’s application that left us without words. He beautifully harmonized the audience’s choruses and we spent all the time singing following his directions. Read more

As I prep for more upcoming travel, it’s not shocking music is always a must-have. U2’s cloud delivered ‘Songs of Innocence’? Uh no. Grammy-winning New Zealand artist Kimbra’s ‘Vows’ and her latest, ‘The Golden Echo’? Yes, please. Since I first saw her mesmerizing live version of ‘Plain Gold Ring’, I felt a kindred left-field thinking spirit. Playing in the pop sandbox with bold visuals, jazz, musical theatre, electro, hip-hop, new wave and soul influences, this girl was different.

Photo Credit: Thom Kerr

Catching her live with Foster The People, where she displayed her sweet personality in a flowing rainbow kimono, sealed the fandom deal. Read more

When a music connoisseur mentions the words “DJ Muggs”, several things come to mind. One of the best hip-hop producers of all-time? One of the best producers of all-time, period? That guy from Queens behind all your favorite Cypress Hill classics (he’s working on the next album right now) and the unforgettable House of Pain’s “Jump Around”? The guy who’s collaborated with U2 and Depeche Mode and just recently released an EP this week called ‘Vita E Morte’ with a new multimedia collective featuring Andrew Kline, Brevi, and Sean Bonner named Cross My Heart Hope to Die (CMHHTD)? Yeah, that dude.

One of the best things about summer, besides the abundance of outdoor shows to choose from, is the time to delve into new albums en route to said shows. June yielded several road trip and airplane friendly albums including José James’ standout latest offering, ‘While You Were Sleeping’. Known for merging the old with the new via the blending of neo-soul, electronic, hip-hop and classic jazz influences on previous efforts, José boldly brings touches of punk and folk into the foray this time around. On the experimental tip, he puts a trademark Generation X/Y blurred stamp on your definition of genre.

Last week, Pryor, Oklahoma played host to the eighth annual Rocklahoma. Whether you made the trip or just stayed at home and barbecued for Memorial Day weekend, chances are you’re still recovering. Although some logistical problems immediately came into play over the weekend, such as check-in traffic and cell phone signal and the overwhelming choice of terrific bands, we were there to get in close for a look at most of the action. Here we go…

Blackstone Cherry- We missed their show, but from everything we’re told (including their peers) Blackstone Cherry is not a show to be missed. Check out their youtube video for “Blame it on the Boom Boom”Read more

In the world where we live or die on the hot single, as a music fan nowadays, it’s rare to find cohesive albums that hold your attention with intricate production from start to finish. E-digging in the crates yet again, I came across such a gem called “Renegades” by New Zealand born, LA based producer, musician and orchestra bandleader Mark de Clive-Lowe. I immediately explored more of his diverse discography and found fiery music cutting across at least five genres (latin and classic jazz, soul, electronic, broken beat) from someone drawing comparisons to other avant-garde producers like Quincy Jones. Fortuitously, as is the case in LA, that same week, I attended Mark’s live “CHURCH” show which brought the music (which will be on his upcoming album dropping in June) to life and had the whole crowd dancing with some spirit-filled tambourine shaking.

Peeping Juggalo fan favs Twiztid’s first independently released mixtape , “A New Nightmare” (I, still a horrorcore newbie) frightened, impressed and intrigued me. Putting the break with Psychopathic Records (Insane Clown Posse’s label) behind them, they ventured out on their own and had a very successful 2013, punctuated by their Abominationz Tour and headlining Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare. In their 16 year career, this Detroit duo’s (Madrox and Monoxide) done a lot, working with the likes of Tech N9ne, Swollen Members and Royce Da 5’9, to name a few.

It’s that time, minus one or two, our staff picks are in. Below, find the best indie music had to offer our beloved staff. Some in lists of albums, others in songs and some with both. Thanks for reading in 2013, and join us as we spend the next few weeks exploring what’s to come in 2014. Read more

Early in the year I thought this was going to be a pretty mediocre year from music. I wasn’t hearing a lot of stuff that was really exceptional. The thing is, as the year progressed, that really changed. In fact, it wound up quite difficult to get this list to any kind of decent length. I had to make some tough cuts to get it into a small enough format to work.

‘Tis the season to wrap up 2013 and if you were looking to turn up one last time before putting on ugly reindeer sweaters, jingling some bells and shutting it down until 2014, Red Bull Sound Select’s LA show provided the perfect opportunity to do so. Mixing LA-based rising talent (Thurz, Azizi Gibson and the group Warm Brew) with an East Coast producer/artist on top of his game right now (El-P who brought along his Run the Jewels partner Killer Mike), you’d have to search far and wide to find a line-up like that for $3. On a cold (ok, it was 50) night, I ventured to the historic Troubadour to peep these acts. Read more

After an intense start to 2013, MC Johnny Richter wraps up his year on a high note with the release of FreeKING Out, dropping today. Obviously, you might recognize him as a former member of platinum selling Orange County based group, Kottonmouth Kings. Breaking ties, channeling storied pasts, potential accusations and personal strife, Johnny focused his energy positively in response and connected with Souls Assassins producer G-Rocka to create his first solo EP in Cypress Hill member DJ Muggs’ studio. Approaching almost 20 years in the business, he faces this next phase of his career with a significant supportive fanbase and a larger than life persona and image that’s unforgettable. Read more

To say that I had a great time this weekend in Vegas at the first annual Life Is Beautiful music, art and food Fest would be an understatement. The Killers, Imagine Dragons ( whose set featured Cirque Du Soleil Mystere performers) Childish Gambino (who did a dope cover of “Rolling in the Deep”),Janelle Monae (who flew in from NYC after performing on SNL on Saturday),Alabama Shakes (love them), Danny Brown, Allen Stone (always fun live), Wallpaper and a slew of great rising Nevada reppers (including Red Bull Sound Select Tour Bus performers American Cream, Moondog Matinee and Ekoh and Homegrown Stager Sabriel ) and other talents from around the U.S.(The Kingston Springs, Tink, Cosmic Suckerpunch to name a few) all made the traffic I faced driving from Los Angeles worth it.

Everywhere you turned on each block of the downtown Fremont St. vicinity stimulated the senses. Whether it be the 3-D art painted on sides of buildings, the fire-shooting ant, the various indoor and outdoor music stages, the culinary village that featured air-conditioned tent chef demonstrations (came in handy to get a break from the sun) and the ridiculously tasty gourmet food under $10 (how often do you find that at a festival?), it all definitely outweighed the serious walking concertgoers did, traveling around from place to place (in hindsight, it was good calorie burning).

Growing up in my house, hours of booming, “ass-shaking” music filled my ears. Disco, dance and house music, in particular, made my little feet want to move constantly. Arriving in LA years later, a friend put me onto DJ Colette who not only brought those great memories flooding back but made it modern-day relevant. Repping Chicago and DJ collective Superjane, Colette released her first independent album on her own label, Candy Talk, When The Music’s Loud a few weeks ago. Featuring the blazing electronica title single and 80’s Adonis inspired “Hotwire”, DJ Colette’s clearly dropped another album full of club bangers. Read more

In an ever-changing global music and arts culture, one certainty still remains. The city that never sleeps, New York City, continues to wear the crown of trend-setting tastes. In a column every-so-often, special reporter to Music Emissions, Danielle Martin will take on the beast known as the five boroughs and all it has to offer…

Aly Tadros live at Joe’s Pub*

Folk music… This is definitely NOT your parent’s folk music. For the longest time, I had a slight aversion to folk music based on my experiences as a child listening to my Grandfather’s folk and country songs on the 8-track (hokey, etc. did not fit in with my rock/alternative mindset)…

A legend and crucial character in Canadian hip-hop, Madchild’s reputation precedes him. An undeniably skilled lyricist and potential loose cannon fiery personality, he’s dropped several unforgettable verses over his 14-year career. As a critical member of four-time Juno Award-winning Swollen Members (along with Rob the Viking and Prevail, who I spoke to earlier this year ), his talent speaks for itself. Achieving mainstream success, the bumpy road’s been filled with addiction detours and legal bans that prevented this brilliant artist from reaching his full potential. Back and better than ever, Madchild’s recently returned to the Canadian and U.S. stage (now allowed to return), rocking the Vans Warped Tour and is poised to drop his latest solo album, “Lawn Mower Man” in August. Read more

As a music fan, there are few things better than when members of great bands get together and create a new great band. New alt rock band Bosnian Rainbows (comprised of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Deantoni Parks from Grammy-winning The Mars Volta, Teri Gender Bender from Le Butcherettes and Nicci Kasper who’s worked with Kudu and KRS-One) have joined forces to create said type of band and will release their self-titled debut on June 25. Combining left-field creativity and performance art sensibilities, this group has melded to form its own attention-grabbing entity. Read more

Welcome to another edition of Unsigned and Wound Up, volume 10 ladies and gents. The top three vote-getters will receive a professional review from a staff writer. The top vote-getter receives an interview feature.Read more

Cold War Kids shared a special moment with a sold-out crowd at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio April 9.It’s not a band, which interacts much with the audience. But the crowd was prepared to be wowed by their heroes. And the fans were rewarded for their devotion. Cold War Kids rock hard. “Mexican Dogs,” the second song, was where the they started to cut loose.

Nathan Willett put on a good show whether he was singing vocals sans instrument, playing guitar, sitting at the piano or shaking the maracas. The new album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, was well represented in the set, which took a little more than an hour. Among the new songs, “Miracle Mile” was the biggest hit with the crowd. The band was entertaining throughout the night, moving about the stage effortlessly. Read more

As a kid on the 70’s/80’s cusp, classic rock played an integral part of my childhood. Artists like Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Free rattled from our car’s speakers crisscrossing the country on frequent road trips and their songs remain imprinted on my cerebellum permanently. Nerdily scoping the regular late night show music schedule in Los Angeles (like I am prone to do) to see who’d be coming soon, I stumbled upon Rival Sons playing Jimmy Kimmel and gravitated to their latest album Head Down along with their previous one, Pressure and Time with songs like pointed “Burn Down Los Angeles” and sorrowful “Jordan” that now stay on repeat automatically. They took me right back to my favorite period of time blending modern and classic folk, rock, blues and funk, making me want to dance immediately. Live clips of these Long Beach, CA natives (who’ve opened for AC/DC, Judas Priest and Alice Cooper) playing live sealed the deal that this band was f-in dope.

I chatted with Rival Sons’ frontman and lead singer Jay Buchanan right before he left for their latest European tour about “standing on the shoulders of giants”, the band’s secret name for him, working with noted producer Dave Cobb, his love of books and hidden wealth of knowledge that could possibly keep us alive on a stranded island and more. Check out the videos and interview clips below!

Interviewing DJ Toure of the Bay Area Hieroglyphics crew a few weeks ago, I luckily connected with another member of the crew, the ringleader, legend and most colorful member, Del Tha Funkee (or The Funky) Homosapien during a tour stop through Southern California recently. One of the best freestylers in the game, which he proved, making the crowd go nuts during his packed show at the Constellation Room, his albums I Wish My Brother George Was Here and No Need for Alarm were two of the my favorite albums of the 90’s. As a member of futuristic Deltron 3030 and Gorillaz multi-platinum “Clint Eastwood” collaborator, his musical history has been varied and full of influential tracks. Watching his documentary , “The 11th Hour”, before the show, a portrait of a gaming, funny creative genius (peep the scene when he talks about porn) emerges.

Taking the stage that night with A-Plus from the Souls of Mischief, they rocked for 90 minutes before I got to catch up with Del after the show. Check the videos and interview clips below and follow Del on Twitter for more deets on his new album!

I don’t think anyone could have predicted the kind of year Jack White had in 2012. From a Grammy-nominated album to touring the world over with two backing bands to putting vinyl records in balloons, White sure knows how to keep busy. He also knows it takes special people to want to come along for the rock ’n’ roll ride. Fortunately for White, Buzzards drummer Daru Jones is just that type of person – Grateful. Humble. And talented as all heck.

Music journalists get hit with a steady helping of press releases every day. For the music fan without that kind of sensory overload, a lot of music news can pass by without being seen. Every Friday, we will weed through and compile a list of some of the most intriguing press releases to come across our virtual desk.

Avenged Sevenfold–vocalist M. Shadows, guitarists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman–became one of the world’s biggest rock bands by creating a sound that broke through obstacles of language, distance and culture. They raised the stakes and standards for the genre with a string of blockbuster albums, including their 2005 platinum-selling breakthrough, City Of Evil, 2007’s platinum-selling Avenged Sevenfold and two consecutive No. 1’s on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart: 2010’s Nightmare and 2013’s Hail To The King. They’ve achieved Diamond, Platinum and Gold awards for album sales in nearly a dozen countries, racked up over a billion video views and a billion-plus Spotify streams, have consistently been one of the most-played bands on rock radio for over a decade with multiple No. 1 singles, and have headlined arenas and the biggest rock festivals around the globe, amassing a diehard international fan base whose members number in the millions.

From M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, “We are excited to celebrate a night of heavy metal with all of our friends. We hope to see everyone there.”

Also added to the bill will be a special live performance by IN THIS MOMENT. Known worldwide for their dramatic live performances, In This Moment– Maria Brink (Vocals), Chris Howorth (Guitar), Travis Johnson (Bass), Randy Weitzel (Guitar) Kent Diimmel (Drums)–have received rapturous praise in a range of national outlets.

The group released their new album RITUAL this summer via Atlantic Records in partnership with Roadrunner Records. Produced by longtime collaborator and multiple GRAMMY® Award nominee Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne), with RITUAL, In This Moment pushing their inimitably dark sound forward with a provocative sense of pervading doom and metallic blues power. Highlights include a dramatic reimagination of the Phil Collins classic “In The Air Tonight” as well as “Black Wedding,” of which Brink shares the mic with legendary Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford.In This Moment made a stunning Top 10 chart debut with 2015’s acclaimed album BLACK WIDOW. The album arrived at #8 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and at #3 on Billboard’s “Hard Rock Albums” marking their highest chart placement to date. Furthermore, the title track off In This Moment’s 2012 album, BLOOD, has been certified gold by the RIAA and its companion music video has been viewed over 27 million times.

“We are very excited to be a part of the Loudwire Music Awards this year,” adds Maria Brink of In This Moment. “We have a big surprise in store for everyone watching! Get ready for the Black Wedding!”

Among the bands performing are ANTHRAX, HALESTORM, ICE-T’s BODYCOUNT, NOTHING MORE, STARSET and POWER TRIP, with special performances by MEGADETH’s Dave Mustaine, JUDAS PRIEST’s Rob Halford and HATEBREED’s Jamey Jasta.

In addition, BLACK SABBATH icon Tony Iommi, VAN HALEN legend Sammy Hagar and the aforementioned ROB HALFORD will receive special honors at the event, which will be hosted by WWE superstar CHRIS JERICHO. Other acts set to appear include ZAKK WYLDE, VINNIE PAUL, STEVE VAI, REX BROWN, STEEL PANTHER, DAVID ELLEFSON, JOEY JORDISON, JOHN5, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD and many more.

Just hours prior to the LOUDWIRE MUSIC AWARDS concert will be the “Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Summit” at the GRAMMY Museum next door to The Novo. Panels will feature Rob Halford, Sammy Hagar, Rex Brown, Steve Vai, Frank Bello and more. The “Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Summit” is free and open to the public; however, seating is on a first come, first serve basis. LOUDWIRE MUSIC AWARDS VIP ticket holders will be given priority seating at the summit. Registration on Eventbrite is required for ALL summit attendees, including LOUDWIRE MUSIC AWARDS VIP ticket holders. To register, visit (HERE) and purchase VIP tickets (HERE)

Music journalists get hit with a steady helping of press releases every day. For the music fan without that kind of sensory overload, a lot of music news can pass by without being seen. Every Friday, we will weed through and compile a list of some of the most intriguing press releases to come across our virtual desk.

AFROPUNK ATLANTA has announced that Miguel will be taking up headline duties for the second edition of the festival while B L A C K I E, Lonely Horse, Pay To Cum, The Txlips, Bloodplums and DJ’s Uniiqu3 and Werc crew will be joining the already stellar lineup that includes Solange, Willow Smith, Danny Brown, Flatbush Zombies, Young Fathers, Algiers, Moses Sumney, Sam Dew, Jamila Woods and many more (full lineup below). Taking place in Atlanta’s 787 Windsor, AFROPUNK presents The Carnival of Consciousness is a weekend-long retreat of music, art, salons, film, and lectures. Following in the same vein as the AFROPUNK Brooklyn, Atlanta will also be participating in this years theme WE THE PEOPLE along with many new initiatives.

The Solution Sessions – a social salon, is a unique space within the weekend’s programming that provides an opportunity to mobilize, inspire, engage, inform, and to rally some of our brightest around the importance of civic participation, diverse thinking, and encouraging attendees to envision themselves making a difference & supporting social innovations. These curated talks feature dynamic orators & personalities addressing audiences on a myriad of topics, issues, concepts, that are solution based. Solution Sessions topics will include:

WE THE PEOPLE: Decriminalizing Blackness – exploring mass incarceration, the war on drugs, criminal justice reform, profiling, civil & criminal rights and presented in partnership with the Drug Policy Alliance.

Reclaiming Our Time & Our Bodies, presented in conjunction with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, will break down the perception and stigmas tied to black women in America, to include an examination of political movements, reproductive health and rights, cultural appropriation and more.

Featured Solution Sessions speakers and panelists for the weekend include noted author, professor and former MSNBC host Melissa Harris Perry; Dorian T. Warren, political commentator and President of the Center for Community Change Action (CCCA); Paul Butler, author and Georgetown School of Law professor; Mary-Pat Hector, 20-year old Atlanta City Council candidate, National Youth Director of NAN and Founder of Just Think Twice; Matthew Kincaid, educator and founder of Overcoming Racism; Model and activist, Ebonee Davis; author and advocate for criminal justice reform, Kemba Smith Pradia and others!

One of the best things about the AFROPUNK festival are its community-driven initiatives. Activism Row is an interactive, site-specific educational installation featuring grassroots non-profits that attempt to solve urgent community problems. Activism Row’s goal is to inform youth about civic participation opportunities. This year the area is presented in partnership with AHF – AIDS Healthcare Foundation and participating organizations include Drug Policy Alliance, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Color of Change and Headcount.

While at the festival, make sure to stop into The Spinthrift Market, a showcase of the best of the AFROPUNK maker community. Vendors this year will include Limegreen Skincare, Healing Temple, BLK MKT Vintage, Afrodesiac Worldwide, Trading Races and many more. Also on site is Bites&Beats, a curated food truck rally experience for everyone from vegans to paleo’s featuring tastes from around the world.

Music journalists get hit with a steady helping of press releases every day. For the music fan without that kind of sensory overload, a lot of music news can pass by without being seen. Every Friday, we will weed through and compile a list of some of the most intriguing press releases to come across our virtual desk.

POP Montreal

The festival is in a few weeks and today we are adding more than 200 bands. We are getting ready to bring the party to THE MILE END and all adjacent neighborhoods. We are adding Ty Segall solo acoustic for an intimate concert and rapper Havoc, the co-founder of legendary hip hop group Mobb Deep. We are really excited to be bringing the Seattle-based KEXP Radio to Canada for the very first time! They will be filming 12 live sessions from Breakglass Studios, featuring performances by Samito, The Luyas, Tess Roby, The Barr Brothers, and more! We’re also honoured to be partaking in the 10th anniversary celebration of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on the opening night of POP.

Speaking of celebrations, we’re highlighting Montreal’s 375th year by putting on a day of FREE events on Saturday, September 16th, as part of Sessions 375. The daytime programming will take place at POP Quarters (3450 St-Urbain) and feature music by local favourites Orkestar Kriminal, Klô Pelgag, Aba &Preach, Bonjay, Lunice and Kid Koala’s Vinyl Vaudeville. After night falls, the action will move up to the Rialto Theatre Complex (5719-5723 Ave. du Parc), where 5 venues will open their doors for a night of more FREE shows. From RZA: Live from the 36th Chamber of Shaolin, to Aldous Harding, Lido Pimienta, Laura Sauvage and Think About Life, the public will be invited to venture through the 4-floor complex, and discover new art and sounds from 7pm to 3am!

POP Quarters will also be hosting all the FREE POP Symposium talks, with festival artists such as Yves Tumor, Moor Mother, Royal Trux, William Basinski, a cooking beats workshop with Lunice, as well as panels by Women in Music Montreal and a discussion on how cultural communities can support Indigenous resurgence. The Record Fair is also moving to POP Quarters this year and will take place on the Saturday and Sunday, featuring live music, DJs and a listening lounge with complimentary Auchentoshan scotch cocktails inspired by selected festival artists.

We’re also putting on a stellar year of film programming through our Film POP segment, with a slew of International, North American, and Canadian premieres, with films programmed from festivals as varied as Cannes, Slamdance, SXSW, and CPH: DOX. The world premiere of A (Mitchell Stafiej | Canada, 2017) will open the fest, featuring an all-star cast of Montreal-based musicians, including Alex Zhang Hungtai (Love Theme, ex-Dirty Beaches, Last Lizard), Romy Lightman (Tasseomancy), Petra Glynt, Bernardino Femminielli, Caro Diaro, and Alexis O’Hara, followed by a musical performance by the bands featured in the film later that night at the Piccolo Little Burgundy (Late Night).

It will also be a big year for Art POP with over 15 events and 30 participating artists. Highlights include a video installation and performance by Maya Stovall, one of the selected artists of this year’s Whitney Biennial; an artist talk and performance by a New York artist Baseera Khan; and a Céline Bureau Artist Residency that will take over an entire floor of POP Quarters, featuring artists such as the internationally renowned sculptor Dominique Sirois and painter Peggy Kouroumalos.

Western Massachusetts based The Sighs just released their latest CD entitled “Wait On Another Day” (2017). The Sighs are definitely a great throwback to the heydays of Rock N’ Roll. Wait On Another Day captures the energy and foundations of these particular eras, and by “these” I mean the early 60s and 90s. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, because according to our sources, most of them have been kept in an old box for quite some time. Songs such as “Lift Me Up” & “Summertime Roses” have hooky vocals, catchy, melodic beats and crunchy guitar that will make you dance, sing, and beg for more.

I get the impression it was ultimately songwriting that captured these guys hearts and imagination. The Sighs (feat Tom Borawski (drums) / Matt Cullen (lead guitar, vocals) / Robert LaRoche (lead vocals, guitar) / Tommy Pluta (bass, vocals)) does not only have great vocals, songwriting skills, but they are what I would call musical method actors. They embody their influences as any other band out there, and somehow while it sounds very familiar, it also sounds somewhat original. Track 1, “It’s Real” is indeed a festive listen. That’s apparent from the opening few tracks this is a surprisingly easy CD to just groove to and get delighted. The sharp edge collection of songs is very compatible with the persona and personality of these 4 guys which will indulge many. Personally, the “nostalgia” quality struck me as I was listening to it. Getting back to the clean comment – some listeners might think that their rock approach is a little too “clean.” I wish there were a few more hard rock pieces on the CD, and rather spread through the record instead of just locate them pretty much at the very beginning and then over at the end. My top picks are “Love From Lisa”, “Into The New Light” and “Think About Soul”. One all tracks you will hear guitar, drums, bass, and phenomenal vocals as well as decent but highly appreciated amount of soloing. As “Wait On Another Day” breathed wildly out of my speakers, it captivated me and inspired me to write down my thoughts and feelings. Feeling I had about life from day to day, from moment to moment. Perhaps this is the same approach The Sighs had when writing this CD. Yes I played it in the background while I was working out as well. This is the perfect music for these types of background activities. “Wait On Another Day” delivers several superb performances from all four members and the best songs are the ones that delve into extended play territory.

Insofar as Marketability and Radio – airplay I recommend Too Bad push “Lift Me Up” and maybe “Thinking About Soul.” The CD also allowed me to indulge into memories of my childhood when I used to listen to The Church and The Clash. The Sighs provided the escape I was looking for, while all 11 tracks washed over me. While I’m definitely pleased with the smooth, easy-to-digest sounds of this release, it’s easy to see that not everyone will be won over by it. “Wait On Another Day” by The Sighs are an impressive talented band within their own right. It’s witty, it’s gritty, it’s infectious, it’s like a powerful ecstasy – it makes you sigh.

Now one of the biggest DJs in the world, Samantha Ronson has led a privileged life and been surrounded by music since an early age. A friendship with Lindsay Lohan saw her propelled into the public eye more than a decade ago, but just where did Samantha Ronson come from, and what is she up to now? Read more

Music journalists get hit with a steady helping of press releases every day. For the music fan without that kind of sensory overload, a lot of music news can pass by without being seen. Every Friday, we will weed through and compile a list of some of the most intriguing press releases to come across our virtual desk.

Music journalists get hit with a steady helping of press releases every day. For the music fan without that kind of sensory overload, a lot of music news can pass by without being seen. Every Friday, we will weed through and compile a list of some of the most intriguing press releases to come across our virtual desk.

Music journalists get hit with a steady helping of press releases every day. For the music fan without that kind of sensory overload, a lot of music news can pass by without being seen. Every Friday, we will weed through and compile a list of some of the most intriguing press releases to come across our virtual desk.

Kaaboo Fest

Celebrity chef and Food Network host Robert Irvine; Top Chef all-star Richard Blais; and R&B-Pop singer turned restaurateur Kelis are just a few of the featured chefs appearing at KAABOO Del Mar

In Its Third Year, KAABOO’s PALATE Programming Brings Together Culinary Talent From San Diego, Los Angeles, And Across The Country For Demos, Tastings, And More

Southern California’s premier live music and multi-sensory experience, KAABOO Del Mar, is pleased to announce its culinary and beverage programing, including PALATE, which will take place during the three-day extravaganza from September 15-17. PALATE represents the most upscale culinary environment at any music festival, where guests can sample local and regional delicacies and small-batch specialties from a variety of carefully selected culinary artisans. Gourmet delectables will go hand-in-hand with dozens of limited production wines, craft beer, and cocktails.

In addition to enjoying the culinary and craft beverage offerings, guests will be able to immerse themselves in a behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the country’s most esteemed chef talent. While headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, P!nk, Muse, and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers play on the music stages, chef and cocktail talents leading the culinary stage include Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo, Robert Irvine, Richard Blais, Michael Voltaggio, and Kelis. Additional demos on the main culinary stage will include Kevin Gillespie, Julio Cabrera, and Chris Adams. The finals of the KAABOO Rock ‘N Chef Competition, presented in partnership with Chef’s Roll, will be returning to the PALATE stage following the satellite competitions held in Los Angeles and San Diego.

“Now in its 3rd year, KAABOO has truly found its niche in the festival world, offering the best in music, food and entertainment,” said Bryan Gordon, Founder + CEO. “Our guests have grown to expect a refined experience at each of our multi-sensory activations, so we have hand-selected our culinary and beverage partners to provide highly desirous food and beverage options, reflective of the KAABOO ethos.”
AMPLIFLY guests, (HANG FIVE and HANG TEN 3-day pass holders), will be able to get a preview of the PALATE / ARTWORK experiences at the Thursday Night AMPLIFY party featuring The Barenaked Ladies and The Dan Band. There is a limited number of 3-day HANG FIVE passes remaining.

Music journalists get hit with a steady helping of press releases every day. For the music fan without that kind of sensory overload, a lot of music news can pass by without being seen. Every Friday, we will weed through and compile a list of some of the most intriguing press releases to come across our virtual desk.

POP Montreal

POP Montreal is very pleased to make a second line-up announcement in anticipation for the upcoming #SWEET16 edition of the festival. Highlights include experimental Argentinian songwriter Juana Molina, the avant-garde composer William Basinski, darling of the electro-pop underground John Maus, and one of the most devastating live performers on earth, Moor Mother, all of whom will also appear in conversation as part of the POP Symposium. Some of the newer acts not to be missed include Dirty Beaches frontman Alex Zhang Hungtai’s new project Love Theme, Polaris long lister and art pop warrior Lido Pimienta, as well Aba & Preach, the hilarious and phenomenal social commentators who have been keeping all of us Montrealers entertained and awake. Finally, hometown hero and LuckyMe recording artist Lunice will put on the party of the year and also partake in a special interactive beatmaking workshop that’s guaranteed to leave the audience inspired.

On the Art POP front, we’re thrilled to be collaborating with the Never Apart art space to present G.R.O.S.S., an all-female multimedia group show featuring artists Tricia Middleton, Nadine Faraj, Rebecca Storm and Jana Sterbak. The exhibit opens July 13th and will run throughout the festival, reveling in the guck, ooze, rot, leaks, and stray hairs and exploring the balance between revulsion and attraction.

In today’s world, it is easy to overlook the fact that what we now take as the norm was, not so very long ago, regarded as exotic. Patrick Talbot, who is Ghostly Beard, is an example of that. Born and brought up in the French Riviera of Franco-Italian background, he now lives in Montreal and is a Canadian citizen married to a British born woman. If there was an example of multi-culturalism in action then Talbot is surely it.

Talbot’s association with music began, as so often happens, with listening to what his family were listening to, in Talbot’s case, rock music listened to by his elder brothers. That early association led to a study of music. With no formal training, he admits to difficulty in reading music and largely taught himself. However, with limited opportunities in his native region, his musical journey could almost have died before it was born. Like many of us, there were local projects with unknown bands with big ideas but that was the sum of it. And then, again like so many of us, career, marriage and life in general got in the way and Talbot entered into a musical hiatus where, he freely confesses, there was a lot going wrong in his life. It was not until some fifteen years later that he began to move back to music. By this time, living in Canada, the opportunities were greater and Talbot once again began to write songs and record them. Read more